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One of the most debated luxury features in today’s vehicles is the powered or “power” liftgate”. While it adds convenience, it also adds to the price of the vehicle. So the question remains – is a power liftgate really worth the additional cost? In this article, we will take an in-depth look, their benefits, potential downsides, and whether they are worth the investment for most buyers.

What is Power Liftgate?

A power liftgate, also sometimes called a power rear liftgate, is an electronically operated rear gate or door on a vehicle. The electric liftgate may be opened and closed by pressing the button located on the door itself, in the cabin or under the vehicle’s Key fob instead of manually lifting the rear hatch using your hands.

A power-liftgate on a luxury car uses electric motors and linkages or cables to raise and lower the rear opening. When activated, the motor smoothly lifts the gate open to a preset open position. Many power-liftgates also include a “close” function that allows the liftgate to be lowered back into position automatically as well at the press of a button.

Some key features and functions include:

Hands-Free Operation

Many power lift gates on a car have proximity sensors that detect when a person approaches with the key fob and automatically open the liftgate for easy access. This “hands-free” opening is a popular convenience feature.

Adjustable Open Height

The preset open height can often be adjusted to suit the needs and preferences of different drivers. This is useful if you need to access cargo from a full-size liftgate or just need it open partway.

Speed control

The liftgate motor controls the opening and closing speed for a smooth, steady operation that’s typically faster than manual lifting.

Safety sensors

Reversing sensors are included to stop the liftgate from closing if an object (or someone!) becomes caught underneath during automatic closing. This prevents injuries.

Programmable settings

Features like operating range, opening height, auto-close delay, and more can be customized through vehicle settings menus.

Keyless open/close

 As mentioned, many power liftgates can be opened or closed right from the vehicle’s key fob for remote access.

So, in summary, a power-liftgate automates what was once a manual lifting task for added ease and convenience when accessing the cargo area. Its automated functions make loading and unloading cargo much simpler.

Power Liftgate Checklist

If you’re considering a vehicle with an available power liftgate on a car, here are some key factors to evaluate when deciding if it’s worth the additional cost:

• Cargo/passengers – How often will you need to access the rear cargo space? Do you frequently transport people, pets, groceries, luggage or large/heavy items that make lifting manually difficult? More utilization means more value.
• Convenience – Do you appreciate technology that saves time and effort, such as hands-free access? They add a notable level of convenience, especially in bad weather or with arms full.
• Vehicle type – Power-liftgate on a car tends to be more valuable in SUVs, crossovers, minivans and larger vehicles where the rear hatch is high and lifting can be taxing. Less vital in sedans and compact cars.
• Long-term ownership – Plan to keep the vehicle long-term? A Power-liftgate on a car holds its value well and provides benefits over many years of use. It may not be as important for short leases.
• Budget – Of course, affordability is key. It typically add $1,000 – $1,500+ to the vehicle’s MSRP. Consider if this cost is justifiable based on your needs and use.

Carefully evaluating these points will help determine if the investment in a power-liftgate makes sense for your specific situation and vehicle type or model. For most frequent users of cargo space, it’s considered a worthwhile convenience feature.

Differnce between Power & Hand-Free Liftgate

While the terms power and hands-free liftgate are often used interchangeably, there is an important distinction:

• Power liftgate – Any liftgate that opens and closes electronically through electric motors and linkages at the push of a button. This is the umbrella term.
• Hands-free liftgate – It adds proximity sensors and passive entry functionality for automatic hands-free opening. The liftgate opens automatically when approaching with the key fob.

So, in essence, all hands-free liftgates are power-liftgates, but not all power-liftgates are hands-free. Hands-free operation through automatic detection of the key fob is an upgraded level of convenience beyond the baseline power functionality.

Some vehicles offer power-liftgates as standard while reserving hands-free access as an optional upgrade. The hands-free component builds on the core power mechanics with additional programming and sensors for autonomous open/close. As the pinnacle of power-liftgate technology currently, hands-free access removes any physical interaction needed and makes loading extremely effortless.

It’s particularly helpful for situations where both hands are full. The passive nature improves on the already high ease of use provided through typical power-liftgate controls.

Benefits of Power Liftgate

Beyond the core functionality and efficiency benefits already discussed, power-liftgates in vehicles provide some notable perks that make them a worthy investment for many owners:

• Accessibility Assistance – Power liftgates aid those who struggle to lift heavy or high-mounted rear hatches manually due to age, injury or disability. This includes wheelchair users.
• No-touch cargo access – Worried about scratching your vehicle when securing objects? Automatic opening ensures no contact is made with the liftgate surface.
• Locking convenience – Some power-liftgates only unlock when the key fob is near for theft deterrence and children/pet safety when opening.
• Weather protection – No need to stand in rain, snow or cold to access cargo, especially during quick loading/unloading tasks.
• Height adjustment – Helps organize bulky objects and cargo at different tiers/levels through customized liftgate positioning.

So whether enhancing accessibility, reducing physical exertion or offering security and weather protection benefits, power-liftgates have proven to be valuable additions for vehicle owners over the years that boost usage and enjoyment of cargo space. The automated functions stay useful for many years of ownership.

Is a Power Liftgate Worth It?

One of the biggest questions prospective vehicle buyers have when considering a power-liftgate option is whether it’s really worth the additional cost. After all, a standard manual liftgate works just fine at a lower price. So, is a power liftgate actually worth the premium investment?

When evaluating the value proposition more closely, several factors point to power lifts being worthwhile expenses for many consumers. From a capabilities standpoint, power-liftgates tend to enhance cargo loading versatility.

Being able to stop the door mid-lift or adjust the height allows for better organization of multi-tiered cargo configurations. Given the widely appreciated benefits in day-to-day usage, protection of initial investment, and ability to simplify common cargo tasks, a power-liftgate proves its worth for a lot of vehicle owners.

While not critical, it enhances the usage experience, particularly for frequent loaders of passengers or cargo – which most vehicles are designed for. Factoring in reasonable pricing of $1000-$1500 on average, the value adds up.

The Best Cars and SUVs for Effortless Cargo Loading with Power Liftgates

Here are some cars and SUVs known for their top power-liftgates:

Cars:

BMW 5 Series, Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, Kia Cadenza and Lincoln Continental

SUVs:

Chevrolet Blazer, Chevrolet Tahoe, Honda Passport, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Murano, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Sienna andToyota Venza

Conclusion

In conclusion, while power liftgates do add intricacy and cost to a vehicle contrasted with customary freight entryways, for some drivers, the advantages of mechanized comfort will offset any disadvantages. As vehicles keep on embracing more electric highlights, power-liftgates address a shrewd innovative upgrade that makes stacking and dumping freight fundamentally simpler while giving a few well-being and security enhancements, too.

As innovation advances, power-liftgate execution and unwavering quality will keep on expanding. Further developed choices like sans hands access expand the easy involvement with the back of the vehicle.

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